SYSTEMS OF SEPULTURE. 237 



former days was thrust into the flames and 

 severely scorched when the body of her husband 

 was being consumed. She afterwards had to 

 carry his ashes in a bag on her shoulders for two 

 years, during which period she was the servant or 

 drudge of his relatives. Thereafter the ashes of 

 a chief were placed in an ornamented box or urn, 

 which was never suffered to touch the ground, 

 being fitted to rest on the end of a pole, stuck in 

 front of the lodge occupied by the relatives of 

 the deceased person. The other tribes in New 

 Caledonia bury their dead. The carriers held 

 triennial feasts in honour of deceased heroes, 

 when the manly acts of the departed were 

 rehearsed to the assembled guests. Women 

 occasionally presided at these feasts. Sailish. 

 Along with Indians of note were interred the 

 weapons they had used, buffalo robes, and the 

 pipe and hat used by deceased ; also a bundle of 

 mocassins. At the burial of a Sailish chief the 

 ceremonies were curious ; the bravest woman of 

 the tribe, one used to carrying ammunition to the 

 warrior when engaged in fight, bared her breast 

 to the person who for courage and conduct was 

 deemed fit successor to the departed. From the 

 breast he cut a small portion, which he threw in 

 the fire. She then cut a small piece from the 



